Toddler flung into sea during 'stunt', dies

A banana boat similar to the one Nur Hannan (inset) was riding on.

The toddler was looking forward to a day of fun in the sea with her family.

But it ended in tragedy after Nur Hannan Humairah Mohd Hafrisham, 2½, and her father were flung into the sea off Port Dickson, in the state of Negeri Sembilan, during a banana boat ride.

Other passengers in the boat also fell into the sea.

Nur Hannan Humairah died from internal injuries just before midnight on Sunday, Malaysia's The Star reported.

Police are investigating if the reckless act of the water sports operator had led to her death.

Superintendent Abd Wahab Harun said the girl's father, bank officer Mohd Hafrisham Ismail, 29, from Kuala Lumpur, had taken his wife and their three children to the popular beach resort at about 4pm on Sunday.

Said Supt Abd Wahab: "The child pestered her father to take her on the banana boat ride and they joined seven others for the ride at about 6.30pm, while the mother and the two other children stayed on the beach.

"Since he was taking the child along, the eldest of his children, the father had told the operator not to go too fast."

But as the banana boat was returning to the beach, the operator is said to have performed a stunt - purportedly to add some excitement at the end of the ride - which caused all on board to be flung into the sea.

Frantic holidaymakers helped Mr Mohd Hafrisham carry his unconscious daughter to the beach, where she was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

RUSHED TO HOSPITAL

The girl, who had swallowed large amounts of water, regained consciousness within seconds and was rushed to the Port Dickson Hospital at about 7pm.

But the doctors there decided to move her to another hospital in Seremban, about 30km from Port Dickson, when her condition deteriorated. She died due to internal injuries just before midnight.